Long range surveillance detachment soldiers jump into airborne operations
Story by Sgt. Jon Cupp, 2nd Infantry Division Public Affairs
CAMP RED CLOUD, Republic of Korea – The job of the 2nd Infantry Division’s Long Range Surveillance Detachment entails more than just observing the movements of enemy troops, sometimes it involves air insertions whereby soldiers parachute into landing zones while under enemy fire.
With this as their training focus, more than 30 scouts of the 2nd Inf. Div.’s LRSD performed a static line jump from a CH-47 Chinook helicopter on July 16 at a Republic of Korea Army compound in Mae San Ri.
“A part of the LRSD mission requires teams operating in front of forward lines and airborne insertion is just one of the ways by which we can safely get our teams into their objective area,” said Capt. Aaron Roof, LRSD commander. “Any airborne operation is inherently dangerous and when you add the combat equipment and have a tactical mission to follow the jump, it’s a difficult mission profile.”
“Our guys always execute it well,” Roof added.
During the training, LRSD scouts jumped out of the rotary wing Chinook from 1,700 feet equipped with their weapons, five-days rations and water, ammunition, radios and an 80 to 100 pound rucksack.
A drop zone safety observer keeps in constant communication with the helicopter and when it reaches the release point, a jump master in the helicopter lets the soldiers know when it’s time to jump.
Immediately after jumping, the parachute opens and the soldiers float to the ground.
LRSD performs jumps such as this monthly, said Roof, in order to qualify them to meet the requirements of their Mission Essential Task List.
“This is really the first step in one of our wartime mission profiles,” said Roof. “This will help prepare us for next month when we’ll perform an airborne insertion and move into a hot landing zone, then we’ll follow on with a tactical mission of surveillance.”
Safety is the first consideration whenever LRSD performs its training, said Sgt. 1st Class Brian Meredith, LRSD, detachment operations and drop zone safety officer.
“With every airborne operation, we have plans to make sure things go correctly,” said Meredith. “We do sustained airborne training, sling load training and harness training to make sure that (soldiers) know how to steer the parachute and take proper actions while in the air.”
“You don’t want to end up in a tree,” said Sgt. 1st Class Rick Gaona, 2nd Inf. Div. Airborne Safety NCO.
“But (LRSD) is one of the safest airborne units you’re going to find, without a doubt.”
Some safety measures taken during the jumps include providing front-line ambulances with a medical team on the ground. Boats with boat crews are also in the area in the event someone lands in the water.
LRSD scouts who participated in the jump said they enjoy the thrill that airborne operations offer.
“I love it,” said Spc. Oscar Saenz, an LRSD senior scout observer. “This is just like it is in the Army of One commercials—you know, all those exciting things people join the Army for, we actually get to do that.”
“This is really exhilarating and I really enjoy it,” said Pfc. Barry Lovett, senior scout observer. “It doesn’t scare me as much as it used to, I crack jokes and keep my mind off of it and concentrate on making sure everything is fastened down and remember the things I’ve learned and what I’ve done so many times.”
As he observed 37 LRSD soldiers making it safely to the ground, Gaona summed up the day’s jump.
“This was a good day to jump,” he said. “Anytime you walk away from a jump, it’s a good jump.”
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